United Way is hitting the road this summer for the Live United Summer Tour, and everyone’s invited.

We’re staging a series of Pop Up Volunteering events and collection drives to support our community goals in infant health and early grade reading, and we can’t do it alone.

During the months of June, July and August, we’ll be bringing the community together to accomplish 20,000 Acts of Kindness in the form of 5,000 book donations, 10,000 diapers and 5,000 assembled kits for students and families in our region.

Volunteers will put together four different types of kits – 1st Birthday Celebration Kits, Healthy Baby Kits, School Supply Kits and Read-To-Me Buddy Kits – during six community events this summer.

Three in Kalamazoo:

• June 8: Kalamazoo Pride, 2-6 p.m. at Arcadia Creek Festival Place
• June 15: Portage Summer Reading Kickoff, 11-1 p.m. at Portage District Library
• July 12: Lunchtime Live, 11:30-1:30 p.m. at Bronson Park

And three in Battle Creek:

• June 29: Voces Family Day, 1-5 p.m. at Burma Center
• July 20: Battle Creek Pride, 11-5 p.m. at McCamly Park
• Aug. 23: Family Yoga, 5-7 p.m. at BC Cargo

There’s no need to register. Simply find our table at one of these community events and help us put together kits full of resources for children and families.

Additionally, businesses and community groups are invited to join the effort by running an employee diaper or book drive, or customizing their own Pop Up Volunteering event. To get involved by running a Live United Book Drive, Diaper Drive, or PUV event, email getinvolved@uwbckr.org for more information and materials to help you get started.

Maybe your summer is already packed with activities. That’s awesome! You can still contribute acts of kindness by helping to purchase kit supplies, diapers or books. Visit our Live United Summer Tour Shop for options. Every dollar helps to ensure that our all of our community’s babies get to celebrate their first birthdays and all students learn to read proficiently by third grade.

To recap, there are 3 main ways to get involved.

1. Volunteer. Find our table at a community event this summer and volunteer with us. Click here to find an event.
2. Run a Drive. Work with your colleagues or friends to run a book drive, diaper drive or Pop Up Volunteering event. Click here to see PUV options.
3. Fund the tour. Support the effort financially and choose where you want your money to go. Click here to donate.

We can’t wait to see you out on tour! For questions, email getinvolved@uwbckr.org.

Thank you to our sponsors for this event: CSM Group of Companies, Pfizer, Landscape Forms, Kellogg Community Credit Union and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.